Wenger Revels in Midfield Duo Return

Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong both return to training for Arsenal after long spells on the sidelines

Arsenal midfield duo Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong have both returned to training following long injury lay-offs.

Wilshere has spent the past 14 months on the sidelines with an ankle problem picked up while on international duty with England in June 2011.

Frimpong has been out since February after suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during his loan spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wilshere is back after 14 months out of action.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "We are so pleased that Jack is back in full training. It's been 14 months and that's a long time for someone at his age. It's an eternity, but it's great news.

"We have to give him a few training sessions to see how he copes and responds to it. That's the delicate, sensitive stage - to choose when to bring him in and out. We'll have to handle that day-by-day.

"We also have Emmanuel Frimpong who has returned to full training this week, which is great news as well. Emmanuel has also been out a long time, but is progressing well."

Both players are expected to feature for the club's Under-21 side prior to being included in first team activities given the length of time spent out of action.

Having broken into the Arsenal first team during the 2010/11 campaign, Wilshere missed the whole of last season, with a number of comebacks in training aborted due to setbacks in the 20 year old's recovery.

With Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Alex Song having all departed from the Arsenal midfield since Wilshere's last club appearance, the England international is likely to become a key component of Wenger's midfield.

Furthermore, England's World Cup qualification campaign is also set for a major boost with the impending return of Wilshere, with manager Roy Hodgson potentially targeting the double header against San Marino and Poland for his recall.

Meanwhile, Frimpong, who also returns to the fold, made his emergence into The Gunners' first team last season, prior to the signing of Mikel Arteta, and with Abou Diaby and Wilshere out injured.